TOKYO — Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic opted for experience in naming his first squad since taking over as coach of the national football team.

Halilhodzic, who was just appointed to the job a week ago, selected Milan forward Keisuke Honda and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa to the 31-man squad that will play home friendlies against Tunisia on March 27 and Uzbekistan four days later.

"I want there to be a lot of competition on this team," Halilhodzic said.

The 62-year-old Bosnian took over from Javier Aguirre after the Mexican was fired last month amid a match-fixing scandal.

Other European-based players named to the squad include Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo and Mainz forward Shinji Okazaki.

Halilhodzic, who guided Algeria to the last 16 of the World Cup last year, has spent his first week in Japan attending J-League games.